Vertically adjustable basketball goal



Feb. 11, 1969 5 PROCTER 3,427,025

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE BASKETBALL GOAL Filed Jan. 27, 1964 Sheet 012 D gg O Z7 Z7 no 36 l6 n \O Flg. L +2 INVENTOR. Elzie H. Procter jPzmlzl/msm-fww Feb. 11, 1969 PROCTER 3,427,025

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE BASKETBALL GOAL Filed 7 Jan. 27, 1964 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR. Elzie H. Procter Al/ameus United States Patent 3 Claims The present invention relates to a basketball goal.

Many persons, particularly children, do not have ready access to a gymnasium including a basketball court. Consequently, a substantial amount of basketball playing and practice is performed in yards, lots, driveways and similar locations. In certain situations, a basketball goal can be mounted on a post fixed or received within the earth or upon a garage. However, such mounting does not permit easy movement from place to place of the goal and, in the case of the earth-fixed post, can be relatively expensive. Also, some persons feel that a basketball goal mounted on a garage injures the aesthetic appearance of the garage building.

Consequently, one object of the present invention is to provide a basketball goal particularly adapted for outside use.

A further object, of the invention is to provide a basketball goal which is relatively sturdy and rigid, yet is relatively easily moved from place to place over rough and uneven ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide a basketball goal which is easily adjusted to a level position on rough or uneven ground.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a basketball goal the hoop and backboard of which can be easily and conveniently adjusted to various heights for use by children and to insure that the hoop and backboard are at regulation heights when the goal is used on uneven ground.

Related objects and advantages 'will appear as the description proceeds.

One embodiment of the present invention might include a basketball goal comprising a framework including a base and an upright portion, said upright portion having a hoop support on the upper end thereof, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on said base for rotation about parallel axes, a plurality of screws threadedly received within said base for rotation about vertical parallel axes, a horizontal pad secured to the lower end of each of said screws, a lever fixed to the upper end of each of said screws, each of said screws being positioned adjacent to a respective one of said wheels, a nut received on each of said screws and having a lever secured thereto, each of said nuts being susceptible of being tightened against said base to lock the screw thereof in a given position and being susceptible of being loosened away from said base to permit adjustment of the screw thereof to a different position.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a basketball goal embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the construction of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the construction of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of certain structure forming a part of the goal of FIGS. 1-4 and usable in adjusting the height of the hoop and backboard.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of an alternative form of the basketball goal of the present invention with certain structure removed for clarity.

3,427,025 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the construction of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the construction of FIGS. 6 and 7 with certain structure removed for clarity.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7 in the direction of the arrows.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and to FIGS. 1-5, there is illustrated a basketball goal 10 which includes a triangular base 11 made up of three elongated angles 12 welded together at adjoining ends. To the middle of the shorter angle 12 is welded an upright tubular element 15 within which is telescoped a further tubular element 16. .The tubular element 16 is provided with a plurality of holes 14 vertically spaced therealong, said holes being adapted to be engaged by a screw 17 threadedly received in the Wall of the tubular element 15 and having a hand lever 20 secured to the extending end thereof.

Mounted upon the upper end of the tubular member 16 is a basketball hoop 21 with net 22 and a backboard 25, said mounting being accomplished by bracing elements 26 and 27 and by mounting element 30. The position of the hoop 2'1, backboard 25 and tubular element 16 can be adjusted relative to the ground by releasing and retightening the hand screw 17. In order to facilitate raising and low ering of the hoop, a Windlass construction 35 is provided. The Windlass construction cooperates with a stiff leg 36 for raising and lowering the goal. The stiff leg 36 includes a collar 37 which is adjustably fixed to the upright tubular member 16 by means of a hand screw 40, the threads of which cooperatively engage suitable threads in the collar 37 and the inner end of which engages said above mentioned holes (or alternatively indentations) vertically spaced in the tubular member 16. I

The stiff leg 36 further includes an upright member 41 fixed to the collar 37 and extending downwardly past the upper end 42 of the upright tubular member 15. At the lower end of the member 41, there is fixed an angle 46 to which is secured the end 47 of a line 48 capable of being wound on the Windlass crank 50. The Windlass 35 includes a generally triangular element 51 which is fixedly mounted upon brace member 52 which is, in turn, fixed to the upright tubular element 15 and to two of the members 12 of the base 11 at the intersection 49 of said two members 12. The generally triangular element 51 has projections 55 and 56 integral therewith and secured thereto, respectively, said projections having apertures 57 therethrough through which extends the crank 50 of the windlass. The crank may be locked in a desired position by means of a blocking member 61 pivotally secured to the projection 55 and engageable with a transversely extending pin 62 received through the crank 50.

Rotatably mounted upon the members 12 of the base 11 are three wheels 70, each of the wheels being located adjacent a respective corner of the triangular base 11. Adjacent each of the wheels 70, there is provided a piece of tubing 71 welded to the members 12 of the base. At the upper end of each piece of tubing 71 is welded a nut 72 which threadedly receives a hand screw 75.

Each of the hand screws 75 extends vertically and has fixed to its lower end a pad 76. The pad 76 can be used to support the basketball goal off of the wheels by adjusting the position of the hand screw 75 in such a manner that the pad 76 is below the respective adjacent wheel 70. When it is desired to move the basketball goal from place to place, the pad 76 can be raised to a position above the lower surface of the wheel 70 to permit such movement.

It should be pointed out that the wheels 70 are retained for rotation about fixed axes rather than being pivotal in the same manner as a caster for rotation about an infinite number of axes. This feature facilitates movement of the basketball goal across a rough surface because the wheels 70 are not swinging back and forth to various angles relative to one another. It should be pointed out that the hand screws 75 not only permit lifting of the basketball goal off of the wheels 70 for preventing rolling of the goal on the wheels but the hand screws also make possible leveling of the basketball goal on uneven terrain.

As mentioned above, the upright tubular member 15 is braced by the member 52. The upright tubular member 15 is also braced by a pair of braces 80 and 81 which are fixed at their upper end to the member 15 and at their lower end to members 12. Received upon each of the screws 75 is a nut 85 to which is fixed a lever 86. The nuts 85 are used to lock the screws 75 at the positions to which they have been adjusted.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 6-9, an alternative embodiment of the invention includes a base 100 which is rectangular in shape and includes four elongated angles 101. Two of the angles 101 have rotatably mounted thereon a pair of wheels 105, said wheels being mounted in similar fashion to the wheels 70 in FIG. 4 with the modification, however, that the axles 106 (FIG. 9) are positioned above the leg 10 7 of the respective angles 101. The hand screw 110, pad 111 and locking nut 112 are similar or identical to the above described construction of FIG. 4 as regards operation and structure and consequently, will not be describedin detail.

Fixed to the base 100 are two tubular uprights 115, said uprights being braced by cross bracing 1'16 and by horizontal brace 117, each member 1 16 of said cross bracing being secured at its lower end to said base 100 and at its upper end to said tubular uprights 115. A pair of tubular members 120 are telescoped within the tubular members 115 and can be fixed in position relative to the members 115 by means of a pair of hand screws 1121 each of which is threaded in the wall of the tubular members 115 and engages respective indentations or apertures (not shown) vertically spaced along the inner tubular members 120. A basketball hoop 125 and backboard 126 is fixedly secured to the upper tubular members 120 by suitable bracing 127 and backboard support element 130. A brace 128 is fixed to and between said upright members 120 and, along with the member 130, maintains a constant parallel spacing of the members 120 whereby they are freely slidable within the tubular members 115.

It will be evident from the above description that the present invention provides a basketball goal particularly adapted for outside use. This is true because of the fact that the basketball goal of the present invention is relatively sturdy and rigid, yet is relatively easily moved from place to place over rough and uneven ground. It should be mentioned that in order to increase the sturdiness and rigidity of the basketball goal, a bucket of sand (not shown) may be placed upon a plate 90 (FIG. 3) fixed between a pair of the elongated angular members 12. It should also be evident that the basketball goal of the present invention is easily adjusted to a level position on rough and uneven ground by use of the hand screws 75 or 110. Also, the Windlass of the present invention makes easy and convenient the adjustment of the hoop and backboard to various heights for use by children and to insure that the hoop and backboard are at regulation height when the goal is used on uneven ground.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the

same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected. One example of a modification that might be made in the above described embodiments is the mounting of the upright post 15 and braces 52, 80 and 81 upon the base 11 by means of bolts instead of welds. Such a modification, which might also be made in the embodiment of FIGS. 6-9, makes possible the convenient packing and shipping of the invention in knocked down condition.

The invention claimed is:

1. A basketball goal comprising a framework including a triangular base and a first upright tubular member fixed to said triangular base midway of one of the three sides thereof, bracing fixed to said base and to said upright tubular member, a second tubular member telescoped within said first tubular member and having a plurality of holes spaced vertically along the second tubular member, a basketball hoop and backboard fixed to said second tubular member, a collar slideably received upon said second tubular member, a hand screw threaded through said collar and engaged within one of said plurality of holes, a vertical member fixed to said collar and extending downwardly alongside said first upright member to provide a stiff leg, a Windlass fixed to said bracing adjacent the upper end of said first upright member and having the distal end of its line secured to the lower end of said stilt leg whereby reeling in of the line raises said stiff leg, a hand screw threaded into the wall of said first upright member and engaged within one of said plurality of holes, three wheels rotatably mounted on said base for rotation about parallel axes with each of said wheels adjacent a respective one of the corners of said triangular base, and means adjacent each of said wheels for supporting each corner of said base at any of a plurality of vertically adjustable positions off of said wheels.

2. A basket-ball goal comprising a framework including a triangular base and a first upright tubular member fixed to said triangular base midway of one of the three sides thereof, bracing fixed to said base and to said upright tubular member, a second tubular member telescoped within said first tubular member and having a plurality of holes spaced vertically along the second tubular member, a basketball hoop and backboard fixed to said second tubular member, a collar received upon said second tubular member, a hand screw threaded through said collar and engaged within one of said plurality of holes, a vertical member fixed to said collar and extending downwardly alongside said first upright member to provide a stiff leg, a Windlass fixed to said bracing adjacent the upper end of said first upright member and having the distal end of its line secured to the lower end of said stiff leg whereby reeling in of the line raises said stiff leg, 2. hand screw threaded into the wall of said first upright member and engaged within one of said plurality of holes, three screws for leveling said base threadedly received within said base with each screw adjacent one of the corners of the triangular base and arranged for rotation about vertical parallel axes, a horizontal pad secured to the lower end of each of said screws, a hand lever fixed to the upper end of each of said screws, a nut received on each of said screws and having a lever secured thereto, each of said nuts being susceptible of being tightened against said base to lock the screw thereof in a given position and being susceptible of being loosened away from said base to permit adjustment of the screw thereof to a dilferent position, three wheels rotatably mounted on said base for rotation about parallel axes with each of said wheels adjacent a respective one of the corners to a position in which the associated horizontal pad is below the wheel adjacent thereto and to a position in which the associated horizontal pad is above the bottom of the wheel adjacent thereto.

3. A basketball goal comprising a framework including a generally horizontal triangular base, a first upright tubular member fixed to said triangular base midway of one of the three sides thereof, three braces, each brace having one end fixed to said upright tubular member at a place near the upper extremity of said upright tubular member and having the other end fixed to said triangular base at a place near one of the three corners of said triangular base, a second tubular member telescoped within said first upright tubular member and having a plurality of holes spaced vertically along the second tubular member, a basketball hoop and backboard fixed to said second tubular member, a collar received upon said second tubular member, a hand screw threaded through said collar and engaged within one of said plurality of holes, a vertical member fixed to said collar and extending downwardly alongside said first upright tu-bular member to provide a stiff leg, a Windlass fixed to one of said braces adjacent the upper extremity of said first upright tubular member and having the distal end of its line secured to the lower end of said stiff leg whereby reeling in of the line raises said stiff leg, a hand screw threaded into the wall of said first upright tubular member and engaged within one of said plurality of holes, three screws for leveling said base threadedly received within said base with each screw adjacent one of the corners of said base and arranged for rotation about vertical parallel axes, a horizontal pad secured to the lower end of each of said screws, a hand lever fixed to the upper end of each of said screws, a nut received on each of said screws and having a lever secured thereto, each of said nuts being susceptible of being tightened against said base to lock the screw thereof in a given position and being susceptible of being loosened away from said base to permit adjustment of the screw thereof to a different position, three wheels rotatably mounted on said base for rotation about parallel axes with each of said wheels adjacent a respective one of the corners of said triangular base and a respective one of said vertical screws, each of said vertical screws being adjustable to a position in which the associated horizontal pad is below the wheel adjacent thereto and to a position in which the associated horizontal pad is about the bottom of the wheel adjacent thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,503,463 8/1924 Amos et a1 151-70 X 2,227,310 12/1940 Hoppes et al. 273-15 2,379,572 7/1945 Gibson 273-15 X 2,553,105 5/1951 Morey 273-1.5 2,672,319 3/1954 Nelson 248-404 X 2,698,873 1/1955 Allsworth et al. 248-404 X 2,743,953 5/1956 Marra et al. 85-9 2,939,705 6/1960 McCall 273-15 2,986,395 5/1961 Sheftel 273-15 3,137,502 6/1964 Duganich 273-15 ANTON 0. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

1. A BASKETBALL GOAL COMPRISING A FRAMEWORK INCLUDING A TRIANGULAR BASE AND A FIRST UPRIGHT TUBULAR MEMBER FIXED TO SAID TRIANGULAR BASE MIDWAY OF ONE OF THE THREE SIDES THEREOF, BRACING FIXED TO SAID BASE AND TO SAID UPRIGHT TUBULAR MEMBER, A SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER TELESCOPED WITHIN SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF HOLES SPACED VERTICALLY ALONG THE SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER, A BASKETBALL HOOP AND BACKBOARD FIXED TO SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER, A COLLAR SLIDEABLY RECIEVED UPON SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER, A HAND SCREW THREADED THROUGH SAID COLLAR AND ENGAGED WITHIN ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF HOLES, A VERTICAL MEMBER, FIXED TO SAID COLLAR AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY ALONGSIDE SAID FIRST UPRIGHT MEMBER TO PROVIDE A STIFF LEG, A WINDLASS FIXED TO SAID BRACING ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID FIRST UPRIGHT MEMBER AND HAVING THE DISTAL END OF ITS LINE SECURED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID STIFF LEG WHEREBY REELING IN OF THE LINE RAISES AND STIFF LEG A HAND SCREW THREADED INTO THE WALL OF SAID UPRIGHT MEMBER AND ENGAGED WITHIN ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF HOLES THREE WHEELS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE FOR ROTATION ABOUT PARALLEL AXES WITH EACH OF SAID WHEELS ADJACENT A RESPECTIVE ONE OF THE CORNERS OF SAID TRIANGULAR BASE, AND MEANS ADJACENT EACH OF SAID WHEELS FOR SUPPORTING EACH CORNER OF SAID BASE AT ANY OF A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE POSITIONS OFF OF SAID WHEELS. 